How to Display Newest Items First in Shopify Search Results

Remember that time when we were kids, arranging our prized Pokémon cards in order of the latest acquisitions, feeling like mini-archivists in our juvenile domains? Now imagine we’re all grown up and swapping our passions to something more pragmatic—something like managing a Shopify store. Quite the detour from Charizard to fashion, gadgets, or artisanal lemon-squeezy thingamajigs. But some of us have the same intense need to organize, to present the shiniest newness on a silver platter right upfront. Just like back then, but with fewer Pikachu holograms.

That's precisely what brought us here, isn’t it? Our mission: to rearrange our Shopify search results, sparking joy not by alphabetical monotony, but by the thrilling freshness of novelty. We all know search results should feel cohesive, timely, and downright sassy—not like a random collection of dusty archives. It’s time to embrace the newest-first revolution. Grab a cup of herbal tea (or an espresso shot if yours is more of a power tale) and let’s hack our way through Shopify’s labyrinth.

Unraveling Shopify’s Search Order

Before we tango with any settings, let’s pause for a moment to talk about why Shopify prefers to mix it up randomly, like a quirky DJ at a wedding. Out of the box, Shopify’s search algorithm doesn’t prioritize release dates; instead, it uses a relevance-first approach. Queue in the relevancy algorithms, a whisper of randomness, and customer customizations like A-Z sorting. But we’re rebels on a quest for freshness.

Preparing for the Magic

Back when Laura and I tried to set up a pop-up booth, we forgot the card reader. Whoops. Lesson learned: preparation is key. So, before diving headfirst into the virtual warehouse of code, make sure you have:

Access to your Shopify Admin.
A comfy chair because coding is best served relaxed.
A backup plan in the form of a developer friend—or at least strong Wi-Fi and a search tab open for frequent "what-the-heck-does-this-mean" queries.

Crafting the Newness Code

Okay, moment of truth—let’s get to the coding bit where we wield our developer expertise like a lightsaber (or like that time I tried assembling IKEA furniture with a spoon). Here’s our master plan, a step-by-step dance destined to unlock the treasure chest of newness-first search results:

Navigate to Online Store: From your Shopify Admin, head over to the 'Online Store,' and then 'Themes.' You’ll find your current theme here.
Find the Code Editor: Click 'Actions,' then 'Edit Code' next to your active theme. It's a bit like wizardry—peeking behind the green curtains.
Locate the Search Template: This is where things get juicy. Look for a file that controls search layout, usually named something like search-template.liquid or search.liquid.
Channel Your Inner Geek: Inside this file, add or tweak the code block where search results are fetched. You'll want to manipulate how these results are ordered, pivoting away from randomness toward "published at" sorting.
```
{% assign search_results = search.results | sort: "published_at" | reverse %}
```
Add this line (or something similar) to ensure it’s fetching and displaying items based on their publish date, newest first.
Save Like There’s No Tomorrow: Click save. Double-check what you did—a meticulous eye is your best friend here.

Testing the Search with Abandon

Picture this: wooden floors, dim lighting, you—sipping the last dregs of that herbal tea—staring at your screen with bated breath. Time to test our handiwork:

Test in incognito mode, because browsers sometimes prefer their own quirky pace (thanks, caching).
Open your Shopify store, perform a search and ... voila! Newest items should prance to the forefront like they’re first in line for a free concert.

Routines, Rituals, and Rambles

Every tech problem solved is a pixel in the grand mosaic of our lives. It's like when Tom helped fix my phone's incessant beeping (spoiler alert: it was all due to one overly enthusiastic calendar alert). Just like that minuscule cog in the broader gadget-world, small coding changes refresh user experience, enhance customer journeys, and provide a new, shiny layer of functionality to your digital marketplace.

Now that we’ve reorganized Shopify search results with the finesse of a Marie Kondo follower, let’s treat ourselves. Whether that involves hitting 'save and publish' or dancing awkwardly around your office to synthwave classics, you’ve earned it. And remember, even though we’ve shifted the flow from randomness to coherence, our lives can still be delightfully unpredictable. Keep creating and curating.